Other sights in Western Australia
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Zebra Rock Gallery
Zebra Rock Gallery, on the Ord River about 15km from Kununurra, produces jewellery and sculptures from the unique zebra rock found around Argyle Downs Station.
reviewed
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Gwalia Historic Site
Just 4km southwest of town, Gwalia Historic Site was occupied in 1896 and deserted pretty much overnight in 1963, after the pit closed. With houses and household goods disintegrating intact, it’s a strange, eerie, fascinating ghost town. There’s a museum with more weird and wonderful stuff in it than we’ve ever seen. Hoover House – the 1898 mine manager’s house, named for Gwalia’s first mine manager, Herbert Hoover, who later became the 31st president of the United States – is beautifully restored, and you can B&B here in one of its three exquisite bedrooms (rooms $145).
reviewed
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A
Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Museum
The Heritage Precinct is an intriguing place to learn about Carnarvon’s history. The area, once the city’s port, houses the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage Museum, Railway Station Museum and the One Mile Jetty, where locals fish for mulloway; you can either walk or take a vintage tram to the end of the jetty. Although the train from the footbridge to the Heritage Precinct is no longer running, a walking trail runs the 2.5km length of the old tracks.
reviewed
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Cape Range National Park
Stunning Cape Range National Park covers 510 sq km, about a third of the North-West Cape peninsula, and is rich in wildlife – kangaroos, emus, echidnas and lizards are easily spotted on a walk or drive through the park. Spectacular deep canyons and rugged red limestone gorges dramatically cut into the range and flow with deep blue water that mirrors the cliffs when calm. The gorges gradually give way to white sand, which leads to the crystal waters of Ningaloo Reef.
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B
Maritime Museum Shipwrecks Galleries
Although the Maritime Museum commands a lot of attention, don’t miss the intriguing Shipwrecks Galleries, where you can learn about gung-ho seafaring adventures and misfortunes. The museum (in a building constructed in 1852 as a commissariat store) has a display on WA’s maritime history, with emphasis on the recovery and restoration of the famous wreck Batavia, in addition to other Dutch merchant ships and some more recent wrecks.
reviewed
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Whale World Museum
The Whale World Museum, 21km from Albany, is based in Frenchman’s Bay at Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, which closed in November 1978. There’s the rusting Cheynes IV whale chaser and station equipment to inspect outside. The museum screens several 3-D gore-spattered films and other films about whaling operations, and displays harpoons, whaleboat models and scrimshaw (etchings on whalebone). There are free guided tours on the hour.
reviewed
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C
Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo has a number of interesting collections, including a nocturnal house and an ‘Australian Bushwalk’. Take the ferry ($3.20 return) across the river from Barrack St jetty to South Perth jetty, where the zoo is within walking distance. Otherwise catch buses to the zoo’s entrance: 30/31 from Wellington St bus station or the Esplanade Busport or 730/731 along Adelaide Tce.
reviewed
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Millstream-Chichester National Park
Around 120km south of Roebourne, this 2000-sq-km park is well worth a detour – you’ll be rewarded by panoramic vistas reminiscent of the USA’s Monument Valley.
The unstaffed Millstream visitors centre (h8am-4pm) was once the homestead of a pastoral station and now has excellent displays on the park’s history, ecosystems and traditional owners, the Yindjibarndi people.
reviewed
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Malcolm Douglas Wildlife Park
Entering through the jaws of a giant crocodile, visitors arrive at this 30-hectare animal refuge and wildlife park opened by Malcolm Douglas in 2005. This naturally designed park, 16km north of Broome, is home to dozens of crocs at two billabongs (feedings at 3pm), as well as kangaroos, cassowaries, emus, dingoes, jabirus and numerous bird species.
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Karijini National Park
One of WA’s most impressive attractions, Karijini National Park provides an idyllic setting for hiking, swimming and soaking up the incredible scenery. Deep gorges, spectacular waterfalls, pristine swimming holes, along with stunning wildflowers and abundant wildlife have made the place a deservedly popular, if still remote, destination.
reviewed
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New Norcia Museum & Art Gallery
New Norcia Museum & Art Gallery traces the history of the monastery and houses impressive art, including works by Charles Blackman and Pro Hart, and one of the country’s largest collections of post-Renaissance religious art. The gift shop sells souvenirs, honeys, preserves, and breads baked in the monks’ wood-fired oven.
reviewed
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Outback Way
The unsealed Great Central Rd – also known as the Outback Way – provides rich scenery of red sand, spinifex, mulga and desert oak. It links Laverton with Winton in central Queensland, via the red centre of the Northern Territory. From Laverton it is a mere 1098km to Yulara, 1541km to Alice Springs and 2720km to Winton!
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Japanese Cemetery
A number of cemeteries testify to the multicultural makeup of Broome society. On Frederick St, there's a Japanese Cemetery with 919 graves (mostly pearl divers). Unfortunately at the time of research, over 100 Japanese graves had been sadly desecrated during the Shinju Matsuri festival.
reviewed
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E
WA Maritime Museum
Housed in a stunning, architect-designed building on the harbour, just west of the city centre, the WA Maritime Museum explores WA’s relationship with the ocean. It faces out to the sea, which has shaped so much of the state’s, and Fremantle’s, destiny.
reviewed
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Bon Scott sculpture
A surprising drawcard for visitors is the Bon Scott sculpture at J Shed, where music fans can see this memorial to late-lamented local boy and lead singer of rock group AC/DC. A more permanent site is planned at Fishing Boat Harbour.
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Mirima National Park
A short stroll east of town (1.5km), this national park is a stunning area of rugged sedimentary formations that look like mini Bungle Bungles. The 350-million-year-old sandstone rock has taken shape by uplift over the past 20 million years.
reviewed
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OTC Dish
On the outskirts of town the OTC Dish was established by NASA in 1966 as a tracking station for the Gemini and Apollo space missions, and tracked Halley’s Comet in 1986. It was closed in 1987 although you can still wander around the site.
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Francois Peron National Park
Renowned for its dramatic golden cliffs, pristine white-sand beaches, salt lakes and rare marsupial species, this national park, 4km from Denham on Monkey Mia Rd, will reward those with 4WD vehicles and an adventurous spirit.
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Kings Park Visitors Centre
Kings Park Visitors Centre is opposite the war memorial on Fraser Ave. Free guided walks leave at 10am and 2pm. If you are laden with picnic gear, take the free bus (number 37) from the city to the park entrance.
reviewed
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Ocean Park
On the way into town, Ocean Park is a locally run aquaculture farm featuring an artificial lagoon where you can observe sharks, turtles, stingrays and fish on guided 45-minute tours. The cafe has panoramic views.
reviewed
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Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre
The excellent community-managed and volunteer-run Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre is in Ongerup, about 50km north of the Mount Trio Bush Camping & Caravan Park – check opening hours before visiting.
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Tjulyuru Cultural & Civic Centre
At Warburton take time to visit the Tjulyuru Cultural & Civic Centre, near the roadhouse; the art gallery contains an extensive collection of Warburton Aboriginal paintings.
reviewed
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Albany Wind Farm
En route to Whale World, about 12km from Albany, stop off to take a look at the Albany Wind Farm, the biggest in the southwest and an eerily striking sight as you get closer.
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Museum
The museum features a restored steam water pumping station on the old goldfields pipeline. The building, with its brick chimney stretching skyward, is also the town’s icon.
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Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre
This Arts Centre is an Aboriginal-owned art gallery and studio where some 50 local artists work in their unique abstract style using ochre pigments.
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